Le Nid by Epure

Simple Sophistication in the French Countryside

This lyrical artists’ retreat drives home the maxim that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. A peaceful haven where a textural palette of muted naturals is allowed to shine, the two-bedroom, two-bathroom garden apartment offers tranquility and soft earthiness with the owners’ art among the furnishings. It’s a place that stands as an invitation to rest and revel in nature’s subtle beauty. Attached to the owners’ ceramics atelier, Epure, a hand-sculpted porcelain and stoneware brand, the property is part of a classic regional farm styled and refurbished by Moka Projects, a Belgian--based design firm passionate about natural materials, pale shades, exposed wood and gentle textures. Minimalist and subtle, the home offers simple respite in a lesser-known country-meets-coastal region of France.

Around

The property is located at the heart of the Haute-Saintogne, the southernmost part of France’s Charente-Maritime region that stretches between La Rochelle and Bordeaux along the Atlantic coast and inland towards Périgord. Set at the end of the Gironde Estuary, a deep wetland slash that runs inland from the Atlantic and separates the region from Bordeaux’s wine country and the Médoc Natural Park, the home offers a true country retreat in a region dotted with Roman architecture, viticultural and agricultural fields. The medieval city of Pons features a 12th-century fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage designated site with a vast medicinal garden, and it’s a stop along the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route. The thermal spa town of Jonzac has been recognized as a wellness destination for centuries, with waters known to treat respiratory issues, arthritis and aching joints.

Between quiet villages of ancient architecture, this part of Charente Maritime is zig zagged by vineyards, with several designated Wine Routes. Grapes for Cognac and a regional aperitif called Pineau de Charentes are grown in the area, as are wine grapes. With its more than 450 kilometers of coastline and four picturesque islands—Ré, Oléron, Aix and Madame—the region is an Atlantic playground. Beaches, harbors, forts on land and massive fortresses at sea, as well as thalassotherapy (sea water therapy) and other spa resort centers are big draws to the region. Oysters are big business here, too, the bivalves from the region’s unique beds where saltwater and freshwater combine are appreciated as among France’s most sought-after oyster.

La Rochelle is a majestic mid-sized city with a rich seafaring culture, and the region’s islands are known for their oysters, mussels grown on “buchots,” or wooden posts, other seafood products, hand-raked sea salts. Sailors, surfers, kite surfers, kayakers, and paddle boarders love the region’s beaches, while hikers and cyclists can take a delineated coastal path and smaller loops through the region’s forests, fields, and vineyards.

Location

Nearest airport: Bordeaux (1 hour)

Best time to visit

April to October